May 23, 2013
Bryan Adams grad ready to be a Starr in 'RAIN'
by Shari Stern
Apr 19, 2012 | 813 views | 0 0 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend | print
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Photos by Cyllavon Tiedemann “RAIN: A tribute to The Beatles” is the only entity having rights from Sony to use the music.
It will be a baby boomer’s heaven when “RAIN, a Tribute to The Beatles,” fills the Music Hall’s amps again in its homage to the 20th century international phenomenon band, The Beatles.

When “RAIN” played at DSM in March of 2010, audiences found themselves on their feet as much as in their seats. The atmosphere was electric as four musicians, who looked and sounded incredibly like John, Paul, George and Ringo, took center stage to entertain thousands with the treasured music of the Fab Four. Most extraordinary was not how much they looked like the real thing, but more importantly, how they sounded like the iconic foursome from Liverpool.

Tuesday, April 24, DSM patrons will have another joyful ticket to ride. Dallas’ Beatles fans – and those who just love music – will come together to twist and shout in the aisles when “RAIN” returns for a one-week run. Even Eleanor Rigby couldn’t resist throwing her hands in the air, waving and swaying with the rest of the audience.

“RAIN” will fill the audience with nostalgia and reverence as they hear classics like “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “All My Loving” and “Hey Jude.” RAIN is not any lonely hearts’ club band.

The cast includes Steve Landes performing the role of John Lennon, Tom Tooley as George Harrison and Mac Ruffing as Paul McCartney.

Taking audiences on a magical mystery tour as the legendary Ringo Starr is White Rock native, Doug Cox. While hearing Cox on drums, percussion and vocal, you may think Ringo Starr is in the house.

Cox, a Bryan Adams 1980 alumnus, first became interested in popular music while growing up in White Rock with parents who were fans of Elvis, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly. Enamored by The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride,” he began drumming.

Dallas musicians agree that Cox naturally has Ringo’s signature style, which started as a 12-year-old learning the trap set. For 18 years, he has played with A Hard Night’s Day, a Dallas band, which has performed Beatles tributes in Liverpool and London. They recorded videos in Abbey Road Studio 2, where The Beatles recorded.

A Hard Night’s Day started in Deep Ellum, and have since played at countless venues including Club DaDa, the Granada, Sambuca and Barley House. The band, which plays private and business events, perform the music of other British invasion bands along with classic rock of the ’80s and early ’90s. They have performed at the Arboretum for years at Cool Thursdays and other events. A Long Night’s Day will play at the Dallas Arboretum on May 8.

Cox played drums in both Robert T. Hill’s and Bryan Adams’ marching bands. He has no previous acting experience. “When you grow up, you always have to be something. I figure you may as well be famous,” the talented musician quipped.

Both of his siblings, Kathey and Terry, graduated from BA in the ’80s. Cox and his wife of 15 years, Teresa, have two daughters and four grandchildren and live in Dallas.

“Sometimes the kids bring their friends early to experience a sound check, see the tour bus and have dinner backstage with the cast. “My kids say my job is no big deal, but their friends think it’s pretty cool,” Cox said.

When audiences of the multi-media performance sees scratchy, worn-looking black and white “films” of The Beatles, they are actually seeing “RAIN,” and the likeness is uncanny.

This is a show for your family. Grandparents will remember where they were on February 9, 1964, when The Beatles, exploding television antennae with “She Loves You” aired in black and white on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Brothers and sisters will remember their older sibs going crazy all together now.

“RAIN” is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Beatles that takes you back to a time when all you needed was love and a little help from your friends! The show is mesmerizing. Yeah, yeah yeah.

For tickets to ride and a performance schedule, visit dallassummermusicals.org.

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